Need a credit card!!!

[travelguru]

Hi Guys,
Someone please help me here. I just checked my Fico score and it is 684 as of today. I am looking for a good credit card that I can be approved for. I have burned myself with Pentagon and Justice Credit Unions in the past, but have no debt at this time. Anyone know who I would be approved for with this score? Please any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[zyzzus]

FICO score is only a small window into someones credit situation.  More information would be helpful.

Any active tradelines.  Baddies you have and how old they are etc.

[myjourney]

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@zyzzus wrote:

FICO score is only a small window into someones credit situation.  More information would be helpful.

Any active tradelines.  Baddies you have and how old they are etc.

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INQ's in last 6 months etc etc 

[Revelate]

Too add to the others, some idea as to what you want out of a card (what your expenses are so rewards can be considered) is helpful as well.

[travelguru]

I have 11 years of credit history. I have 4 accounts which were in collection more than 3-4 years ago, but are paid collections (they were very small balances anyway.) I have a credit card with Capital One with a $1500 credit limit and has about $700 balance on it. I have a Best Buy card with a $400 credit limit and has a $0 balance. I also have an Express credit card with a $500 credit limit and a $0 balance on it. I am an authorized user on my wife's credit cards, but as I understand it, these do not have an impact on my credit rating. I had a Pentagon Credit Union and JFCU cards in the past about 5 years ago but those went into collections, and I paid them. I also had an AMEX Delta Skymiles card in the past which also went into collections, but I paid it off. This was also 5 years ago. My Transunion Fico is 684 as of today. I really don't care about the perks on a card, just want a card with a decent credit limit and one I can build my credit back with. Any suggestions?

[travelguru]

I also only have 1 inquiry on my credit report.

[travelguru]

Oh sorry. I also had 1 tax lein from 2007 which was paid off in 2008 as a public record.

[parakleet]

I'm sure the others will chime in but I suggest paying down that cap1 balance down as much as possible or under 10% before you app for anything. 

[boomhower]

Pay that cap one down to under 10% and you'll likely be clawing at 700.  When you do that I'd try DCU or Barclay Ring for a lower interest card since you don't care about rewards.  DCU will likely get you a higher limit and the Ring a lower APR with that score. 

[drkaje]

Aside from lowering utilization, I'd comb the rebuilding section and see if anyone has had success with the three accounts you've mentioned. I've read plenty of stories where Amex deleted old accounts for people and also personally benefited from it in 2007. Unsure about PenFed or JFCU but you may have some luck digging through old posts.

If the paid tax lien is federal there's a form to have it removed. Form 12277, Application for the Withdrawal of Filed Form 668(Y), Notice of Federal Tax Lien

Being an AU on DW's cards is probably helping you, depending upon her utilization.

Hope this helps. Fixing the tax thing will only take a month or two. Amex, if they're amenable, won't take long either. Also, see if there's any chance Amex will take you back. A new Amex would be backdated to the initial member since year. I really would start with the tax lien, if federal. No idea which Amex number would get best results aside from starting with executive relations.